Electric switch



- F. P. GATES ELECTRc SWITCH June l 1926f Filed April 22, 1922 PatentedJune 1, 1926.

UNITED 4sifa'il-iS .PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC P; GATES, WESTHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, `.ASKSIG'lI'OIxf TO THEHART MANUFAC1"(J'1?I1\TC-fvl COMPANY, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ACORPORATION OF Niiw JERSEY. y

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed -April 22, 19227. Serial No. 555,997.

This invention relates generally tojelectric switches of the type havinga rotary handle for moving suitable poles or switch Vplates relative toterminals held on a base, 'and the handle constituting a pointer forindicating the indexed positions of the switch poles. In switcliesofthis type, it isusually regquired that the handle stand in certain an-`guiar positions with reference to the axis kof the switch; for'instance,that the handle be vertically and horizontally disposed in:its respective indexed positions-' However, in order 4to' supply thedemandsgbased onfdiferent requirements and specifications of the trade,it is necessary to provide switches disposed inV diierent angularrelations on their bases, for instance, someswitches will have theirterminals disposed as shown by dotted lines, Fim 2, while others will beturned say at 400.21 out their axes, so that their' terminals will bedisposed along .-thepdot and dash-lines of this gure. I

The aim oflthe present invention is to provide la. newl and advantageousarrangement for:` adapting switch" handlesv of a single vconstructionfor'use in meeting these various demands and requirements,` thuseliminating the `necessity of manufacturing and carrying in stockafdifferent structure i of handle for. each angular'disposition ofswitch'. Further features of novelty and advantage residing in thepresent invention will be pointedout hereinafter more in detail.V A

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown for "illustrativeypurposes one embodiment r which the linventionmay take,v-.4 n v u.{Fighl is a sectional view taken vertically and centrallythrough `theswitch shown in Fig.2; f- A Fig.Y 2 is a plan view;` c, z

Fig. 3 is a central, sectional view through the handle] taken .on line3-3-.ofFig-l 5.,'

Fig. f3?" isa partial sectional view k'taken throughthe handle; Fig. V4;vis al bottom View y.of the handle proper; Y i

Figs. 5, 5a and bare viewssimilar to Fig.

ibut showing the respective washers 'se-1. u v

vWhen tli'ehandle is `thus turned, the spring cured to the handle-fordetermining kthe vangular 'positionof the' handlenonthe switch spindle;A

shown. spindle 14, loose on which is ak switching kscribed more indetail. 'spindle 14 andhaving its ends'straddling` Fig; 6 isaiperspective view of va collar for securing the washers in place. Y f

IiiFig. -1 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown soy much offaswitch kof the type illustrated in the patent to `Smart and Gates, S.No. 1,409,146, dated March 7 1922, as is necessary to make clear oneapplication `of the present invention. This showing is, f ofcourse, byway of illustration only, and V invention, it being obvious that thevnovel "features herein described may be applied lto f itis not to betaken as restrictive of or as; having any limiting effect uponthepresent' the construction and operation of this.rk

Smart and Gates switch, 4the said patent may be referred to. A verybrief statement as to its operation will'here be given, so

that the application of the hereinafter dee scribed improvements of thepresent invention will be clear. f l

Referring tothe drawingv in detail, 10 is a base of `insulating'material and of any' `desired shape on which are lirxedterminals `11,suitably spaced apart, say M190", as Journaled in the bearing 13 is aunit 15 having suitableswitcli or poleplates 16, insulated from oneanother and arranged to connect tlieterminals 11 in various cointo vtheVswitching unit`15 andi loosely receiv-y .f

ving the spindle 14 is `an abutment` 17. ySecured to the spindley is ayU-'shaped `spring.y

plate 19, having van upwardly extending projection 20 adapted to beoperativelyfconnected to. the-handle 21, as hereinafter de- Coiled aboutthe the springplate and abutment, is a spring 22. In operation, thehandlemay be turned step by'st'ep in eithervdirection toetfect the ydesired 'connections between the termina-ls.

is placed under tension until the catch plate then the spring throws theswitching unit one step with a quick movement, and the catch platere-engages the stop plate to stop the switching unit in its new indexedposition.

` rIhe handle 2l, which may be of any suitable material, but preferablyof porcelain, is provided with a bore or well 3Q, having longitudinally'extending grooves 3l which receive the guides or wings 32 of a connectoror sleeve 33 internally threaded to receive the upper threaded end ofthe switch spindle la. rIlle handle is normally held againstlongitudinal movement relative to the sleeve by a spring 34 abuttingagainst a collar 35 loosely receiving' the sleeve and held in place by aspring ring sprung into an annular groove in the wall of the boreadjacent its open end. IIeretofore it has been the custom to provide theswitch handle with a single notch or recess 38 for receiving theprojection, and thus fixing the handle against rotation on the spindle.

In accordance withfthe present invention, provision is made forconnecting handles of identical construction to the switch spindles in`various angular positions corresponding to the angular posit-ions ofthe respective switches on their bases, and thus mal'ing it possible tomeet from a single stock of handles the requirement that the handles ofthe several switches extend in the desired directions in their indexedpositions. To this purpose, the handle. is provided at its inner endwith a plurality of notches 38, 3S and 38, adapted to receive theprojection 2O and spaced apart in accordance with the angulardisposition of the various switches on their bases; and means, in theform of washers llO, 40 and 40D, are provided for selectively lilankinlgall but one of the notches. rl`h'e washers may be secured to the handlein any suitable manner, but, by preference, in order to accomplisheconomy in manufacturing` and facility in assembling, the collar 35 isprovided with a pair of spaced ears 4Q, and each of the washers has apair of slots for` receiving these ears, the ears being turned over thewashers, as shown in Fig. 3, soV as to hold them in place. It will benoted that the collar, together with the washers secured thereto, isnon-rotatable relative to the porcelain handle.

In the present illustrative disclosure of the invention, it may beassumed that requirements of the trade demand three different models ofswitches,-one model having its terminals disposed as shown by dottedlines, Fig. 2; the second model turned $0.0 counter clockwise relativeto the tiret one, so that it will have its terminals disposed on the dotand dash lines i-ra.; and the third model turned 36,0 clockwise relativeto the lirst one, so that it will have its terminals disposed on thelines -ZL Under this assumption, the recesses 38, 3,8?L and 381 will bespaced apart at 400. lVhen the handle is to be applied to a switch ofthe irst model,-that is, with its terminals disposed is turned so as toscrew the sleeve onto the threaded spindle; and after the washer hasbeen brought into engagement with the cover tl of the switch the handleis released, so that the notch 3S will receive the projection 20, asshown in Fig. lVhen the handle is to be applied to a switch of thesecond mOdelV-that is a` switch having its terminals disposed on thelines i-a of Fig. 2, the washer 40 will be secured to the bottom of thehandle, as shown in Fig. 5a. YThis washer has an opening all adapted toregister with the aperture 392 their the handle is to be applied to alswitch of the third modeh-that is, a switch having its terminalsdisposed along the line -l) of Fig. 2,-a "asher 40h having an aperture411 adapted to register with the notch 3S" will be secured to thehandle, as shown in Fig. 5b. It. will be noted from Fig. l that thespring 34. yieldingly urges the handle towards the s itch base, and thuspresses the washer 4() against. the cover de, whereby the latter ismaintained in place without employing screws or other similar attachingmeans. The washers are preferably of libre or like material, andtherefore have a smooth, relatively soft surface engaging the switchcover, so that when the handle is turned the bearing between the bushingand the cover is such that there is little or no friction, scratching ornoise.

I claim as my invention l. In combination with a rotary switch spindle,a handle member constituting a. p'ointerand having a plurality of meansfor securing it to various angular positions against rotation on thespindle, and means for selectively rendering' all but one of said {irstmentioned means ineffective.

2. In combination with a rotary switch spindle having a projection, aswitch handle having a plurality of angularly spaced recesses' ornotches adapted to receive said projection, screw threaded means forconnecting the handle to said spindle, and means mounted on the handlei'Or-blanliing all but one of said recesses. i

3. A handleforuse. in connection with switches having a rotary spindleprevided with a projection, and including a handle member having aplurality of means adapted to co-operate with saidy projection forholding said handle against rotation relative to the spindle, and meansorfrenderingall of said means except one ine'ective.

4. A handle', for use in connection with switcheshaving a rotarj7spindle providedy with a projection, and including a handle memberhaving angularl'y spaced recesses positioned to receive said projection,means for connectingV said handle member to said spindle for rotary andlongitudinal movements, and a member bla-nkingr all but one oi saidrecesses.

5. A handle, fornse in connection witl switches having' a rotary spindleprovided with. a projection, and including handle member provided withla plurality of anguf larly spaced recessesV positioned to rreceive theprojection, meansl 'for connecting saidy member for sliding and rotarymovements to the spindle, aiwasher having a single aperture adapted toregister 'with one of said recesses, and means for ksecuring said Washerto said handle member;

6. .A handle for use in `connection with switches having a rotaryspindle provided With a projection, and including a handle member havinga bore and a plurality of angularly spaced recesses adapted to receivethe projection, a connector slidably mounted` FREDERIC l). GATES,

